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How To Manage Stress

There is no doubt about it, life is stressful. We all have stresses in
our lives, but how we handle them and how they effect us varies. If we
are good at managing stress, it becomes merely a part of life and it
doesn't control us. If we are bad at it, it becomes overwhelming, takes
over our lives, and can even cause a lot of negative health issues.
Managing stress doesn't have to be horribly hard or even terribly time
consuming, but you do need to do it with a conscious mind and
intentional living.

Healthy Lifestyle.There has
been a lot of research done into the advantages of a healthy lifestyle.
The benefits are too numerous to list, but those who work on living a
healthy lifestyle are less likely to become overwhelmed by the stress
in their lives. While you don't have to "snap" into a healthy lifestyle
in moments, if you aren't living one right now you should start making
steps toward doing so. Here is a good definition of a healthy lifestyle:

Positive diet-
Your diet consists of all the foods you eat, each and every day. You
should work toward a positive diet that is well balanced, includes lots
of fruits and vegetables, and has a good ratio of fat to calories. Your
body doesn't really need fat and you should be careful with how much
you take in.

Lots of water- Water is a very
important part of our lives and a healthy lifestyle. It is a key part
of a well functioning body. When your body functions well you are more
capable of handling the stress in your lives. It is recommended that
you have 8 to 10 glasses of water or you take your weight and divide it
by two and drink that many ounces each day. If you need help getting
more water in your diet see the article Tips For Drinking More Water.

Exercise- Exercise is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle and it will make you feel lots better in so many ways.

Exercise.Exercise
is such a huge part of stress management and feeling good that it needs
to be said more than once. Exercise gets the blood pumping, helps
repair damaged tissue in the body, helps the body detoxify, and
releases chemicals (positive ones at that) into the system. The
chemicals that are released are natural anti-depressants and they aid
with anxiety. Additionally they are good for a whole lot of other
benefits that help the body manage stress. Exercise should take place
for at least 30 minutes three times a week, but more is always good.
Give it several weeks to feel the benefits. In fact, give it time to
become a habit. Most habits take at least six weeks to form and may
take as many as eight weeks.

Meditation. Meditation
is a word that has a lot of different meanings and people feel a lot of
different things about it. However, there is no doubt about it that it
helps relieve stress and gives you inner peace and relaxation. Some
simple massage techniques are to sit quietly on the floor (you don't
need a fancy position to feel the results) and work at clearing your
mind and keeping it blank. During this time concentrate on your
breathing and take deep breaths in and out. Another thing you can do
for a good meditation technique is to concentrate on the flame of a
candle and replace your thoughts with the candle flame. Don't worry if
it is hard at first (entire lives have been dedicated to learning to
meditate), but keep trying.

Massage.Massage is a
wonderful thing to get. While it isn't always possible to have someone
else massage you, when they get a chance take them up on it. You can
trade massages with a friend or with your spouse. If you do get the
chance to get a massage from someone else consider Making Your Own Massage Oil.
However, you can also give yourself some simple massages (it is true
that it won't be a full body massage). These simple massages can feel
great and help relieve some stress. Try massaging your hands and arms,
feet and calves, shoulders and neck, and even your own head. Get lots
of great massage tips at Giving Yourself a Massage.

Sounds and Scents.Our
bodies react to a wide range of stimulus. If we choose relaxing sounds
and scents we can aid our bodies in relaxing. This isn't hard to do.
Simply put on some relaxing music or sound tracks. You can choose your
favorite music as long as it is relaxing or pick something that is
designed for relaxing such as classical, a relaxation CD, or nature
sounds for relaxation. Scent wise you can choose your favorite or go
for one that is known for relaxing the body such as sandalwood,
rosewood, lavender, chamomile, jasmine, or neroli. Using essential oils
(oils that are actually made from the plant material) will work the
best. You can make them into a linen spray, dab them on your hot
points, add them to your bath, or put them in a diffuser.

Snack Time.Food
can be amazingly relaxing. It allows us to step back from the rest of
the world and take a break. Make sure that you don't become dependent
on food to relax, but taking a break now and then and enjoying some
good food can be a great thing. Make sure you do it without doing other
things at the same time, eat only when you are hungry, and take small
amounts (especially if it is bad for you). Aiming for healthy snacks
such as fruit can also be a good idea!

Bath Time.Warm
water is also a good way to relax and let the stress of life float
away. Even if you are pressed for time, ten minutes in a hot bath can
bring you some stress relief. Add bubbles, essential oils, herbs,
candle light, beautiful music, and you are all set for the ultimate
get-a-way right there at home. Plus you can spend as much time or as
little time as you can afford to give it. Plus baths are good for men
and women!

Letting go of the stress in our lives is often hard
to do. But working toward a healthy lifestyle, getting lots of
exercise, doing a little meditation, the occasional massage, sounds and
scents, a little food, and a good bath every now and then is a great
way to relax. Let go of your stress and enjoy life to its fullest.